A photo from a Lockheed Martin test in September 2017, in which it used a ground-based laser to shoot down airborne drones

Lasers are known to be heavy and get extremely hot, making them difficult to fit to fighter jets.

He added: "The development of high power laser systems like SHiELD show laser weapon system technologies are becoming real. The technologies are ready to be produced, tested and deployed on aircraft, ground vehicles and ships."

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Defence announced a £30m contract to build a Laser Directed Energy weapon.

Several European defence firms will work together to create a prototype that can pick up and track targets across land and sea.

It will be rolled out across the armed forces by 2019 to “keep this country ahead of the curve”, said Harriet Baldwin, Minister for Defence Procurement.

The weapons will be housed in a pod attached to fighter jets.

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